# Metaphor - write behind photos — Stories in photos and videos

> Embed stories and notes into photo/video metadata, organized by hashtags. (iPhone/iPad app by yifan xiao.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metaphor-write-behind-photos/id1289516289 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [yifan xiao](https://appshunter.io/developer/1289516288)
- Category: Productivity, Photo & Video
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 5 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 10.0 · 3 MB
- Languages: English, French, Chinese
- Released: 2017-11-10
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metaphor-write-behind-photos/id1289516289/reviews.md

## What is Metaphor?

Do I have to create a document, a note, a journal, to insert photos, videos and add texts? Should I upload and share everything on my social network? Will I choose to superpose the text on a photo or a video and save it as a copy, so that the original is not compromised?

It bores. The moment has gone. You didn’t write it down, and the memory, the inspiration, the fun is lost for good.

With Metaphor, it’s finally as simple and intuitive, as you would love. You are now empowered to write stories directly into the metadata — the ‘back side’ of your digital photos or videos.

And not only that you can write individual stories into separate shoots. With powerful, creative hashtag support, your entire camera roll becomes one amazing-to-read storybook.

IF YOU’RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH METADATA

In every digital photo and video footage you take, there’s built-in metadata, in which your cameras automatically store the time, location, and other technical details, so that all the applications following the standard, in spite of their operating system or device, can access the information. Metadata, and the image data of pixels, are like a happy couple, or a good metaphor: the two parts being both independent and inseparable.
Ever since the conceiving of the industrial standard in 1979, it has been used for many technical purposes, by geeks and professionals. While there’re plenty of excellent tools to read and edit metadata, Metaphor is a little different: it takes little interest in the technical part, just like you. It unleashes the potential of metadata, to complete your narrative.

KNOWN ISSUES

- Metaphor works best with standard photos, live photos, and videos. Extreme dimensions and special formats may not be fully supported.
- The current version is not designed for devices other than iPhones.
- In extreme cases, if a photo is damaged after editing with Metaphor, find it in Apple Photos, and do ‘Restore to original’. Please report to us with more details. 

ABOUT IN-APP PURCHASES

Without the subscription, or with the expiration of the subscription, you can still and always use Metaphor to read, search and share stories, as well as organize your entire camera roll with hashtags. However, you won’t be able to write or edit stories until you make or renew a subscription.

Don’t worry if you choose to cancel the subscription or delete the app. The stories you’ve already written with Metaphor are safely stored in the metadata of the photos and videos themselves. You will still be able to read or edit them in other apps that work with metadata.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at metaphor.app@gmail.com. Thank you very much!

## Key features

- Write stories in photo/video metadata
- Organize camera roll with hashtags
- Save as copy, preserve originals
- Intuitive and simple interface
- Search and share stories

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Metaphor Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Metaphor Monthly Subscription | $0.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $4.99 | per year |
| Monthly Subscription | $0.99 | per month |



## Frequently asked questions about Metaphor

### What is Metaphor?

Metaphor is an app that allows you to write stories and notes directly into the metadata of your photos and videos. It helps you organize your media and preserve memories without altering the original files.

### How does Metaphor use metadata?

Metadata is built-in information in digital photos and videos that includes technical details like time and location. Metaphor leverages this space to store your narrative content, making it inseparable from the media itself.

### Can I write stories without a subscription?

Yes, you can still use Metaphor to read, search, and share stories, as well as organize your camera roll with hashtags, even without an active subscription. However, writing and editing new stories requires a subscription.

### What happens to my stories if I cancel my subscription or delete the app?

The stories you write with Metaphor are safely stored within the metadata of your photos and videos. You will still be able to read or edit them using other apps that support metadata editing.

### Does Metaphor work on devices other than iPhones?

The current version of Metaphor is designed specifically for iPhones and iPods. Support for other devices is not included in this version.

### What are the subscription options for Metaphor?

Metaphor offers both monthly and yearly subscription plans. The monthly plan is $0.99/month and the yearly plan is $4.99/year. Both plans include a 7-day free trial.

### What should I do if a photo is damaged after editing with Metaphor?

If a photo appears damaged after editing, try restoring it to its original state within the Apple Photos app. Reporting such issues with more details to the developer can help improve the app.

### Is Metaphor suitable for all photo and video formats?

Metaphor works best with standard photos, live photos, and videos. Extreme dimensions and special formats may not be fully supported, and users are advised to report any compatibility issues.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.7 — 2020-02-29

- Shake to switch to story-reading mode: Read your photos and videos like never before.
- iCloud photos and videos supported.
- Fixed known issues.

### 1.61 — 2020-01-28

Writing stories into videos, photos and live photos;
Reengineered navigation: swipe to swiftly switch between collections;
"Random six" to recollect and write down the precious moments;
Fixed bugs in analyzing all shoots.

### 1.6 — 2020-01-26

Writing stories into videos and Live Photos;
Adding, removing or editing tags in multiple photos, videos and live photos;
Reengineered navigation: swipe to swiftly switch between collections.

### 1.51 — 2019-12-19

· More intuitive and fluent writing experience — write into your photos like instant memos
· Deep searching — find the photos with stories, hashtags and extra info
· Powerful hashtags — instant applying and gathering; organize your photos more flexibly and efficiently than with albums
· 6 random photos — write it down, before it’s gone
· Effortless storybook  — with all the stories you've written, creating photo story PDFs is just one tap away 
· Inspiring landmarks — apply the special hashtag to mark events, create sections, and automatically generate a ‘table of contents’ for the entire camera roll
· Fixed several issues and enhanced performance

### 1.5 — 2019-12-14

- Elaborately redesigned interface. 
- Creating amazing PDF storybooks with a series of photos and stories.
- Searching photos by the written stories. 
- Gathering photos by stories and hashtags.
- Special hashtag to mark events, create sections, and automatically generate ‘table of contents’ for the entire camera roll.
- Applying hashtag changes to multiple photos.

## More apps by yifan xiao

- [Quantum Fluctuations](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quantum-fluctuations/id6756230767)
- [Catchwords AI](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catchwords-ai/id6757086858)

All apps by yifan xiao: https://appshunter.io/developer/1289516288

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*